Upstate Student In Custody After Threatening School

Spartanburg, SC (Greenville News) -- A 17-year-old student was taken to an Upstate hospital after he reportedly told another student that he was going "shoot and kill 42 students and 8 teachers" on "zero day," authorities said.

The threat was directed at James F. Byrnes Freshman Academy through Facebook and the investigation was initiated at Byrnes High School, according to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.

The suspect told another student that he had a .38 handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun, according to an incident report. The student's parents were contacted and the father told investigators that the student had access to the weapons, according to the report.

The student was taken into custody at his home, suspended, put on trespass notice and taken to a hospital for evaluation, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The situation is being handled as a mental health issue, according to the Sheriff's Office.